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(No Model.)

15'. J. BIGG-S.

MORTISE LOOK.

No. 353,196. Patented Nov. 23, 1886 INVENTOR: WITNESSES.

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UNITED STATES PATENT- OFFICE. I

FREDERICK J AMES BIGGS, OF l j ONDQN, ENGLAND.

. MORTIS-E-LOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 353,196, dated November23, 1886.

Application filed October 6, 1885. Serial No. 179,096. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK JAMES BIGGS, a subject of the Queen ofGreat Britain, and a resident of London, England, have invented certainImprovements in Mortise- Locks, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates to that class of mortiselocks which havecylindrical cases. adapted to be inserted in a hole bored with a bit oranger;

' that there has not been sufficient vertical space to provide for theproper rise and fall of the tumblers, nor to admit of the locking-plateand tumblers being made suifieiently wide to permit of the propercutting out of the space in which the key moves, thereby rendering thewards of the key so small that there is difficulty in providingsufficient variety in the wards of different keys to afford adequatesecurity. In order to provide more space, and thereby reduce thesedisadvantages, I make the lock with a cylindrical casing, having thechamber for the locking mechanism extending entirely through it invertical direction, and in order to close the open top and bottom ofthis chamber I slip over the frame a cup-shaped sheath of thin drawntubing having a closedrear end. This drawn tubing gives a desirablefinish to the lock-case, and is so much thinner than a cast-metal casingthat a considerable economy of space is effected.

1n the drawings, which serve to illustrate my'invention, Figure 1 is aside elevation of the exterior sheath of the lock detached, and Fig. 2is a transverse section of the same, taken in the plane indicated byline 2 2 in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the lock complete, andFig. 4 is a rear elevation of same. Fig. 5 is a similar view to Fig. 3,but showing the exterior tubular sheath in longitudinal section. Fig. 6is a transverse section on line 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan view ofthe lockwith the tubular sheath removed.

I construct the inner frame of the lock which contains the lockingmechanism in two parts, one of which is permanently attached to theface-plate. This frame is made of cast metal, and its two sections aresecured together by a screw. Over this frame I slip the cupshapedinclosingsheath, made of thin drawn tubing closed at its rear end in thedrawing process.

Inthe drawings, a is the exterior tubular sheathflnade from thin drawnmetal tubing of cylindrical form and closed at its end b.

e 6 represent the two sections of the lockframe, one of which ispermanently attached to the face-plate f, and the two are securedtogether by a screw, Z. The frame 6 e has a chamber formed in itextending diametrically through it from top to bottom, in which chamberare placed the tumblers or levers k k and the latch-plate or lock-platek. The plate It is flush with the top and bottom of the frame e 6, whilethe tumblers k it have play for the full height of the frame. When theframe 6 e,

containing the locking mechanism, is inserted in the sheath a, the openend of the latter abuts against the face-plate f, and at the other endit is secured to the frame'by a screw, which passes through its closedend b, and screws into the inner end, h, of one of the sections of theframe.

The sheath a, being very thin, forms a com-,

plete housing for the mechanism and frame, and at the same time occupiesno appreciable room, which is a great desideratum, and as the verticalchamber for the locking mechanism extends entirely through the'frame e ethe entire vertical width of the bored socket or mortise is renderedavailable for the play of the lock mechanism, except the insignificantspace occupied by the thickness of the sheath.

In the sheath is formed the keyhole c, and in the frame e e is formedthe key-hole d, the two coinciding when the sheath is in place on theframe; and in order that these key-holes maybe readily brought intotheir proper relative positions and maintained there, I provide theframe e 6 with a stud, t, which engages a hole in the closed end b ofthe sheath when the sheath is properly in place.

The key-hole is made horizontal, instead of vertical, as usual, and isplaced as low as is practicable in order to enlarge the space in thelocking-plate and tumblers and enable the wards of the key to be madelonger. The key-hole is made doublethat is, with a wing for the wards oneach side of the eye for the key-stem. The key is inserted horizontallywith its wards in one wing, is turned a half-revolution in order to lockor unlock the bolt, and then reaches the opposite position,where it maybe withdrawn, its wards passing out through the opposite wing.Myinvention' is not, however, confined to this construction andarrangement of key-hole.

My invention is applicable to mortise-locks of all descriptions, whetherlatch-locks, such as that shown (and which may have a sphericalendedlatch, as represented, or one of another form,) or dead looks, ortwo-bolt locksthat is to say a lock with both a latch and a:

bolt.

I am aware that tubular mortise-locks are old, and that the mechanismsofsuch locks have been inclosed in thick tubular openended casings. ThisI do not claim; but

What I do claim is 1. A mortise-lock consisting of'a cylindrical frameformed with a chamber for the-lock mechber, and a face-plate fixed tosaid frame, in combination with an exterior sheath, a, of thin drawntubing, having a closed end, b, fitting over said frame, and afastening-screw, g, passing through the end I) and engaging said frame,whereby the sheath is secured to the lock, substantially as set forth.

2. A mortise-lock consisting of a cylindrical frame formed with achamberforthelock mechanism extending entirely through it, a latch or bolt andtumbler arranged to work in said chamber, a face-plate fixed to saidframe, and a projection, 2', at the rear end of said frame, incombination with an external sheath, a, of thin drawn tubing having aclosed end, b, and having also a hole therein to receive said projectionand prevent the sheath from turning, substantially as set forth.

In witness whereof I have hereunto signed my name in the presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

F. J. BIGGS.

Witnesses:

J os EPH PASPELD, JOHN WM. \VILLIAMS.

